My hometown is somewhere in between the size of a huge metropolitan area and a podunk town; it's a decent size and there is a variety of things to keep you busy. Like any teenager, I longed to be able to move out of my parents' home and into the big city where I knew I belonged. When the time finally came, though, it wasn't a big city I ran to, it was a town so small it doesn't even boast having a movie theater. And do you know what? I think that has been my best decision yet.

I was raised to be polite and I knew the people who lived in my neighborhood for most of my childhood. I was never afraid to walk around by myself or bike to a friends house. I don't remember things ever being bad as a child. However, as I got older and began to take note of and form opinions of where I lived, it didn't seem all that great. My parents didn't let me take the bus to school, we got an alarm system for our house, and I remember clearly the first time I saw my dad bring a firearm into the house. Many people would describe my hometown as having increasing violence and no potential for growth. While I know those things are not statistically true, it's hard to get away from and see beyond the negative outlooks that you're surrounded by. Yes, there is violence. It's hard to escape that nowadays. But the potential for great things has not been taken away. New local businesses are investing in the area. There are places for kids to explore working with their hands and learning new skills. People are trying to bring the city back up and I see growth frequently in my hometown. The only difference is: now I'm watching it grow from a distance.

My lease was ending and I had to make a decision so I drove a U-haul straight to nowhere. I was floored when I was met at the U-haul by friendly neighbors offering to help me move in furniture. My new town of residence is what you would picture when you envision classic, small town America. We have a couple of grocery stores and a poorly stocked Walmart. We have an old time soda shop, a main street that closes down at 5pm, lots of places to fish, one library, and not a lot else. I love it. There is nothing to do and nowhere to get in trouble. There is no Target and no mall; you have to drive to the next city over for major shopping needs. It's fantastic. I still get to shop at local businesses and I've made a list of local restaurants to try. I like the appeal of being able to access a larger metropolitan area and at the end of the day turn off the noise and head back to my little square of nowhere.

If you think I am crazy, allow me to explain. Small town life is what I always pictured society should look like. It's the life my parents talked about as I grew up but was not what I experienced firsthand. Since moving, I know all my neighbors, we all speak to each other when we pass on the sidewalk. I know my mail delivery woman, my maintenance man, and all the workers at my grocery store. If I felt inclined to break habits, I could leave my car unlocked and not worry about it being broken into. I get to explore the historical sights and yes, we even have a few Pokemon Go stops. I always see people I know around town met with a friendly wave and a "Hey, how are you?" I feel at home after only a few months. Kids run around free and people watch out for each other. At night, it gets quiet enough to hear crickets and there is almost no ambient light filling up the sky. You can sit out on the patio and just enjoy being there. No drama, no hearing neighbors argue, no sirens every few minutes, just peace.

I find myself more relaxed and less worried about what is going on around me. I find more time to do things that make me happy instead of trying to keep up with the Jones's. People are happier, gas is cheaper, and things that mattered so much to me before have all but melted away. Don't get me wrong, I will always hold a special place in my heart for my hometown, but there is something about being able to see the stars at night that just makes you feel at home.